STATE v. EDWARD WHEAT

Minnesota Supreme Court1926-03-05No. No. 25,068

166 Minn. 300

Summary · law.co

Holding. The trial court's denial of the motion for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence was affirmed, as the record did not demonstrate an abuse of discretion by the trial judge.

Edward Wheat was convicted of a sexual offense involving a minor based primarily on the victim's testimony, which was corroborated by other evidence and circumstances. After trial, the victim submitted an affidavit recanting her testimony and claiming it was false, and a third party provided an affidavit stating the victim had told him before the accused was even charged that the offense never occurred. However, when questioned by county authorities shortly after, the victim denied signing the affidavit, reaffirmed her trial testimony as true, and claimed she had told interested parties that her original testimony was accurate. The record suggested potential pressure or influence may have led to the recantation.

The trial court denied Wheat's motion for a new trial based on this newly discovered evidence. Wheat appealed, arguing the denial was an abuse of discretion. The appellate court noted that while a similar recantation case had been decided previously, this case presented weaker grounds for relief because the victim's retraction was uncorroborated, was itself contradicted by her statements to authorities, and appeared to result from external pressure rather than genuine conscience. The trial judge, having observed the trial firsthand and the witnesses' demeanor, was best positioned to assess whether the victim's original or subsequent statements were truthful.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

Whether newly discovered recantation evidence warrants a new trial
Standard of review for trial court discretion in granting new trials
Credibility and reliability of recanted testimony as evidence

Procedural posture

Defendant appealed from the trial court's order denying his motion for a new trial filed on grounds of newly discovered evidence.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion · public domain

majority opinion

Wilson, O. J.

Defendant appealed from an order denying his motion for a new trial. He was convicted of carnally knowing one Mildred Morrow under 18 years old. Upon the trial she testified unequivocally to the commission of the offense. There were other evidence and circumstances in corroboration of her positive accusation. The offense was charged as of April 15, 1924. Defendant was tried in October, 1924. A motion for a new trial upon the ground of newly discovered evidence was made in May and denied in July, 1925.

The newly discovered evidence is shown by an affidavit of Mildred Morrow, now Bucbholz, dated May 5, 1925, that her testimony given on the trial, as above indicated, was false. There is also an affidavit of one Loren Mndge in which he says that she told him in January, 1924, before defendant was accused, that defendant had not had sexual intercourse with her.

On May 7, 1925, in the presence of the county attorney and sheriff of Anoka county Mrs. Buckholz denied making the statements contained in the affidavit apparently signed by her and reaffirmed that her testimony on the trial was true. She also insisted that she had told defendant’s parents and others interested in getting the affidavit that her testimony on the trial was true. The state contends that her oral and written statements which tend to exonerate defendant were the result of pressure and persuasion from stronger minds.

On May 8, 1925, one Minnie R. Beatty and defendant’s parents called on Mrs. Bucbholz and she then offered excuses for her contradictory statements to the county attorney.

The rule is now thoroughly established by this court that the matter of granting new trials on newly discovered evidence rests largely in the discretion of the trial court. Dun. Dig. § 7123. Such discretion must be exercised cautiously and sparingly in the furtherance of justice. It is not necessary for us to inquire whether, upon the record, a new trial might have been properly granted. The question before us is whether the refusal of it involved the violation of a clear legal right or an abuse of judicial discretion.

A somewhat similar situation was presented in State v. Myers, 154 Minn. 242, 191 N. W. 597. But in that case the matter of corroboration, while more important than in a case of this character, was not as strong as in this case. In that case the witness was also corroborated by documentary evidence in his denial of his own testimony, while in this case the denial is not only uncorroborated but is fairly repudiated by the witness. In that case the record disclosed no inducements from any source. In fact the acknowledgment of having added perjury to his sins was apparently voluntary. In.this case the record would permit an inference of pressure, persuasion or influence.

The defendant had a fair trial. The trial court was familiar with that record and he saw and heard the witnesses. He knew the atmosphere of the trial. LeMieux v. Cosgrove, 155 Minn. 353, 193 N. W. 586. He was in the best position to decide whether an injustice had been done. He was peculiarly well qualified to decide whether the girl’s testimony on the trial was true or false and also whether the ■ subsequent repudiation of her sworn testimony was the truth disclosed by a stricken conscience in the cause of justice or otherwise. There is nothing to indicate an abuse of discretion.

Affirmed.